Lesson 1: Consumption and Consumerism

*OBJECTIVE:

1. To discuss the difference between consumption and consumerism.
2. To debate the relation between desire and consumption.

* Students: 11-14 years old.
* Places: Classroom and Shopping Center.
* Recursos: Form, Texts, Trips.

* THE LESSON:

First Stage

• You should explain the subject and the objectives of the lesson.

• You should give a form for each pupil. That form must have the name of the pupil and the amount that the pupil will be able “to spend” in goods at the shopping.

Second Stage

• Trip to the shopping. Each pupil will have to spend the amount estipulated by you in goods that interests him. He must write down in the form what he bought, the amount of it, the name of the store and the reason of the purchase.

Third Stage

• Each pupil will present his registers to the class.

* Many pupils will “buy” products that they do not need. You should uses this moment to discuss the relation between desire and consumption. Its is interesting to show how the act of purchase is sometimes associated to the feeling of instantaneous happiness. Other pupils will “buy” things that they need. This is a good moment to debate the relation between necessity and consumption. It will be useful to talk about the difference between consumption and consumerism.

• After the discussion, you should read a text about the subject.